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Tailormade Short Break in Burma TMBU2

Tailormade Short Break In Burma

A week of highlightsCombining many impressive temples and pagodas with natural beauties such as Inle Lake, this eight day trip visits all the highlights to get a feel for this friendly and inviting country.

Enriching tailormade journeys – for youThis bespoke journey features some of our favourite spots in Burma. You can choose to take our destination experts’ recommendations and travel just as you see the itinerary here, or contact us to add your own special touches; you could add some relaxing time at Inle Lake to soak up the atmosphere or how about combing this itinerary with Thailand or Cambodia? We’re here to design your perfect holiday. Call us on 0844 875 1896.

Should I go?Aung San Suu Kyi, the Burmese pro-democracy leader, gave her blessing to the return of tourism to Burma in November 2010. National League for Democracy (NLD) leader U Win Tin said: “We want people to come to Burma, not to help the junta, but to help the people by understanding the situation: political, economic, moral – everything.” This marked the end of the tourism boycott started in 1995 and the return of small groups and individuals to Burma has been endorsed by Burma Campaign UK and the Free Burma campaign. Explore are delighted to return to Burma after pulling out in 1995 in response to the call for boycott. We use a privately-owned Burmese agent for all of our services, and whilst each itinerary has been carefully planned to try and avoid using any service owned by or affiliated with the government or former military junta, we accept that some money will make its way into their hands. We strongly believe that by operating tours in Burma we contribute to the local economy in a positive way, whilst providing our customers with an insight into the culture, through direct interaction with Burmese people.

Tailormade Short Break In Burma - Comfort Version

1Depart UK

Depart the UK for your overnight flight

Included Meals: None

2Arrive Rangoon

Arrive at Rangoon and transfer to you hotel. This afternoon you visit the beautiful Kandawgyi Lake, colossal reclining Buddha Chaukhtatkyi and the awe-inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda which towers over the city.

Overnight: Inya Lake Hotel
Included Meals: None

3Fly to Bagan, Temple Sightseeing

This morning depart Rangoon and fly to Bagan. Today you have a sightseeing tour of Bagan’s many distinctive pagodas such as Shwezigon; Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi, a 13th century cave temple with interesting frescoes; Ananda Pagoda, one of the finest, largest and best persevered in Old Bagan, and Htilominlo Temple which is known to be the last Myanmar Style temple built in Bagan. Afternoon sightseeing highlights includes Sulamani Temple and Thatbyinnyu Temple which towers above the other monuments of Bagan. As the sun goes down you can watch the view over the temples.

Overnight: The Hotel @Tharabar Gate
Included Meals: Breakfast

4Fly to Mandalay; Amarapura and Inwa sightseeing

Depart Bagan and fly to Mandalay. From Mandalay transfer to the ancient royal capital of Amarapura where you visit Mahagandayon monastery and the nearby U Bein bridge. At more than two centuries old and at 1.2 km long, it is the longest teakwood bridge in the world. Continue your journey to another former royal capital, Inwa, where you visit the 'leaning tower of Ava' and the elegant teakwood monastery Bagaya Kyaung.

Overnight: Shwe Inn Gyin Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast

5Mingun and Mandalay

Taking a short ride upriver to Mingun, you visit the mammoth base of the unfinished pagoda which was due to be world's largest pagoda, however building stopped in 1819 due to the death of King Bodawpaya. You also visit the Mingun Bell, said to be the largest hanging un-cracked bell in the world. This afternoon enjoy a tour of Mandalay, including the highly revered Mahamuni Pagoda; a gold leaf hammering craft shop, Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Kuthodaw Pagoda, renowned as the world's largest book for its 729 stone slabs containing the entire Buddhist scriptures, and Mandalay Hill for views over the city and Ayeyarwaddy River.

Overnight: Shwe Inn Gyin Hotel
Included Meals: Breakfast

6Fly to Heho, visit Inle Lake

Depart Mandalay and fly to Heho. Transferring to Inle Lake, located approximately 900m above sea level, the lake is 20km long and 6km wide, where you have a long tailed boat trip to Innpawkhone Village. Here you will see lotus and silk weaving in production, visit Nanpan to discover traditional boat making methods, the cheroot (Burmese cigar) factory, continue to Phaungdaw U Pagoda and a short visit to Leshae Village where you can see the making of Buddha image from dried flower powder. Afterwards visit Nga Phae Chaung monastery (Jumping Cat Monastery) and floating gardens.

Overnight: Shwe Inn Thar Floating Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast

7Indainn sightseeing

Taking a boat ride along the small scenic creek that runs into Inle Lake, continuing your sightseeing visit to Indain and its enchanting 17th century pagodas.

Overnight: Shwe Inn Thar Floating Resort
Included Meals: Breakfast

8Fly to Rangoon, city sightseeing

Depart Heho and fly to Rangoon. A visit to Scott Market, noted for its variety of handicrafts and other items, provides an excellent opportunity for a shopping spree before a visit in China town. Also explore Pansodan Street, with its large and impressive colonial era buildings and sidewalk markets, followed by Botataung Pagoda, which as it is hollow, you can walk through and see many ancient relics and artifacts.